Death Records in San Francisco

San Francisco is both a city and a county. Death records are kept by two offices. The Office of the County Clerk has records for deaths more than three years old and after 1906. The Department of Public Health Office of Vital Records handles more recent deaths. You can get certified copies from either office depending on when the death occurred. The fee is set by state law. Processing times range from a few weeks to over a month. You can order in person, by mail, or online. Starting in April 2025, the County Clerk accepts direct payment for vital records so you don't have to use third-party services if you don't want to.

Which Office to Contact

If someone died in San Francisco more than three years ago and after 1906, you order from the Office of the County Clerk. The office is at City Hall, Room 160, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, San Francisco, CA 94102. The phone number is (415) 554-4950. They keep the archived death records and provide certified copies. You can visit during work hours or order by mail.

For deaths within the last three years, contact the Department of Public Health Office of Vital Records. The address is 101 Grove Street, Room 105, San Francisco, CA 94102. The phone number is (415) 554-2700. They handle more recent death certificates and can help you with urgent requests. Call ahead to confirm they have the record you need before you visit.

The San Francisco death certificate page explains how to order. It lists the two offices and when to contact each one. The page has details about fees and processing times. Starting in April 2025, you can pay directly through the County Clerk instead of using a third-party service.

Processing Times

The expected time to receive a death certificate in San Francisco is about four to six weeks. That's longer than some other counties. The delay happens because the paperwork has to go through multiple departments before it's filed and made available. If you need a certificate urgently, call the Public Health office. They may be able to expedite it for a valid reason like settling an estate or claiming insurance benefits.

How to Order Death Certificates

In-person requests are handled at both offices. Go to the County Clerk for older records or the Public Health office for recent deaths. Bring your photo ID and payment. Fill out an application form. The staff can help you if you have questions. If the record is on file, they'll tell you when you can pick it up or if they'll mail it to you. Some records are in storage so they take longer to retrieve.

Mail orders work for people who can't visit in person. Download the application form from the city website or call and ask for one. Fill it out completely and sign it. Include a copy of your ID. Send a check or money order for the fee. Mail it to the office that has the record you need. Processing takes several weeks. They mail the certificate back when it's ready.

Online ordering may be available through third-party vendors like VitalChek. They charge extra fees for the service. As of April 2025, the County Clerk offers direct payment so you don't have to use a third party. Check the city website for current ordering options and fees.

Fees for Death Certificates

Death certificates in San Francisco cost the same as in other California counties. The state sets the fee. As of January 2026, it's $26 per copy. If you use a third-party service, they add processing and shipping fees. Those can range from $10 to $25 or more depending on the service and how fast you want the certificate. In-person and mail orders through the county offices cost just the base $26.

The fee is non-refundable. If they search for the record and don't find it, you still pay. They give you a certificate that says no record was found. That proves they searched. If you need multiple copies of the same record, you pay the full fee for each one.

Types of Certified Copies

An authorized certified copy can be used for all legal purposes. Insurance companies, banks, Social Security, and courts require this type. An informational certified copy is for genealogy and family history. It's stamped to show it can't be used to establish identity. The fee is the same for both. The difference is who can get them.

To get an authorized copy, you must be a close family member or legal representative. Parents, children, siblings, spouses, domestic partners, grandparents, and grandchildren qualify. Lawyers representing the estate or family can request copies. Law enforcement and government agencies have access for official business. Everyone else gets the informational copy.

Notarized Sworn Statement

For authorized copies, you need a notarized form. The application has a section where you sign under penalty of perjury. You do this in front of a notary public. The notary checks your ID and watches you sign. Then they stamp and sign the form. That proves you swore you're entitled to the record. Without the notary, you only get the informational copy.

Notary services are available at banks, UPS stores, and many government offices in San Francisco. There's usually a small fee for the notary stamp. Bring the completed application and your ID. Don't sign it until the notary tells you to. They have to witness your signature for it to be valid.

What Information to Include

The application asks for the full name of the deceased. Use their legal name. The date of death helps them search. If you don't know the exact date, give the month and year or just the year. The place of death should be in San Francisco. Your own name, address, and phone number go on the form. So does your relationship to the person who died. Include a copy of your photo ID. The more detail you provide, the faster they can find the record.

Records After the 1906 Earthquake

The 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire destroyed most city records. Death records from before 1906 are largely gone. The County Clerk has records from after the disaster. If you need a death record from before 1906, it may not exist. The clerk can tell you if they have anything from that period. Some records were saved or reconstructed but many were lost forever.

Uses for Death Certificates

Life insurance companies need death certificates to pay benefits. Social Security requires them to stop payments and process survivor benefits. Banks need them to close accounts or release funds to the estate. Probate courts need them to settle estates and distribute assets. Real estate transactions need them if the owner died. Some states require them to transfer car titles. Pension funds and retirement accounts need proof of death.

Genealogy researchers use death certificates to build family trees. The certificates show where the person was born, who their parents were, and what they did for work. That information helps confirm relationships and dates. The informational copy works fine for research. You only need the authorized version for legal and financial matters.

Privacy and Access Laws

California law limits who can get authorized copies of death records. The rules protect privacy and prevent fraud. Only certain people have the right to get the version that works for legal purposes. The clerk checks your ID and relationship before releasing an authorized copy. If you claim to be family, they may ask for proof like a birth certificate or marriage certificate.

Contact Information

Office of the County Clerk: (415) 554-4950. Address: City Hall, Room 160, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, San Francisco, CA 94102. Hours: Monday through Friday during regular business hours. Check the city website for holiday closures.

Department of Public Health Office of Vital Records: (415) 554-2700. Address: 101 Grove Street, Room 105, San Francisco, CA 94102. This office handles recent deaths. Call for hours and to confirm they have the record you need.

Nearby Counties

• San Mateo County
• Marin County
• Contra Costa County
• Alameda County